Ozempic Lawsuit

Is There an Ozempic and Wegovy Lawsuit?

Yes, lawsuit for Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus and Mounjaro users are now being investigated by lawyers. The lawsuits allege that the manufacturers placed their desire for profits before consumer safety, failing to warn doctors and users that these weight loss drugs can cause severe gastrointestinal side effects, particularly stomach paralysis or gastroparesis, which is a disorder that slows food movement from the stomach to the intestine.

As a result of the manufacturers failure to warn about gastrointestinal side effects, individuals are now seeking compensation through Ozempic gallbladder lawsuits and Ozempic stomach paralysis lawsuits.

Who is Eligible for an Ozempic Lawsuit?

Financial compensation may be available through an Ozempic lawsuit or Wegovy lawsuit for individuals who received any number of Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro injections, or took Rybelsus tablets, and suffered any of the following complications:

• Gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying)
• Gallbladder disease
• Gallbladder removal
• Gallstones
• Severe vomiting
• Severe diarrhea

To determine if you or a loved one are eligible for an Ozempic stomach paralysis lawsuit, submit information for review by an Ozempic lawyer, who will help evaluate the circumstances and determine if you have a claim. Attorneys handle all Ozempic Wegovy lawsuits on a contingency fee basis, which means that there are no fees or expenses paid unless a settlement or lawsuit payout is received.

Latest 2024 Ozempic Lawsuit Updates

• April 23, 2024 Update: In position papers recently submitted to Judge Pratter on April 9 by plaintiff’s, and April 15 by defendants, lawyers have submitted arguments on whether sufficient label warnings were provided on drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, focusing on risks like gastroparesis. The plaintiffs argue that the labels do not adequately warn about severe digestive impairments, while the defendants claim the warnings are sufficient and are pushing to dismiss some claims and require specific diagnostic tests for plaintiffs.
• April 8, 2024 Update: Judge Pratter will hold a status conference for the growing number of claims being filed in the Ozempic MDL on April 18, 2024. In a Notice of Hearing issued late last month, counsel have been instructed to submit any suggestions for the agenda by close-of business on April 9.
• March 27, 2024 Update: The U.S. District Judge presiding over the litigation is expected to appoint a small group of plaintiffs’ lawyers to serve in various leadership positions in the Ozempic MDL. The leadership appointments are likely to be discussed at a status conference hearing scheduled for next month.
• March 11, 2024 Update: Judge Pratter issued the first case management order last month, calling for an initial organizational conference to be held on March 14, 2024. The conference will focus on how the multidistrict litigation (MDL) will be conducted, including the process for selecting lead counsel, how frequently status conferences will be held and their format, the management of new filings and a schedule for expected filings, and the procedures for motion filings.
• February 20, 2024 Update: A study published in Frontiers in Endocrinology linked Ozempic, Mounjaro and other GLP-1 drugs to psychiatric side effects, such as nervousness, stress, eating disorders and insomnia.
• February 2, 2024 Update: In response to a motion to consolidate all GLP-1 stomach paralysis lawsuits filed in various different federal district courts nationwide, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) issued a transfer order on February 2, centralizing all Ozempic lawsuits, Wegovy lawsuits and other GLP1 stomach paralysis lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The JPML has assigned U.S. District Judge Gene E.K. Pratter to preside over the Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Products Liability Litigation.
• January 12, 2024 Update: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it has found no evidence of Ozempic suicide risks to date, but the agency warns it has not yet completely ruled out the risk from Ozempic or other drugs in the GLP-1 receptor agonist class of medications.

Ozempic Lawsuit Overview

Ozempic, also known as semaglutide, is a prescription medication developed by Novo Nordisk, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes on December 5, 2017. Ozempic is an injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which belongs to a class of drugs that help to lower blood sugar levels in the body by increasing insulin secretion.

Novo Nordisk subsequently released an oral version of semaglutide in a tablet for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes named Rybelsus, which was approved by the FDA in 2019.

While Ozempic and Rybelsus were specifically designed to treat people with type 2 diabetes, the drugs quickly became widely used off-label for the perceived benefits of helping some individuals lose weight. With Novo Nordisk pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into advertising and celebrity endorsers speaking out on the weight loss benefits, the popularity of Ozempic for weight loss purposes skyrocketed, and substantially increased profits for the drug maker.

As a result, Novo Nordisk quickly developed a third form of semaglutide marketed under the brand name Wegovy, which was approved by the FDA in June 2021, specifically for use as a weight loss drug by adults with obesity and those overweight with certain health conditions.

With more individuals taking semaglutide for weight loss, widespread reports quickly began to emerge about severe and debilitating side effects from Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, including severe gastrointestinal disorders. However, there is now growing evidence that Novo Nordisk knew or should have known about the risk of long-term Ozempic stomach problems, yet failed to adequately disclose these side effects until September 2023.

Gastroparesis lawsuits are now being pursued against Novo Nordisk for failing to adequately research the diet drug or warn about the risk of severe and long-lasting Ozempic side effects.

Who is the Ozempic Lawsuit Against?

The Ozempic lawsuit is against Novo Nordisk and its subsidiaries, which manufactured the weight loss and diabetes drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus.

There is also a Mounjaro lawsuit against Eli Lilly for its drug tirzepratide, a competing diabetes and weight loss drug. Both pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly failed to warn about the diabetes drugs side effects, according to complaints filed by former users.

Lawsuits are not being filed against individual health care professionals who prescribed Ozempic, Wegovy Mounjaro or Rybelsus, because the manufacturer failed to warn doctors and patients about the serious side effects of the diabetes medications and weight loss drugs.

GLP-1 Stomach Paralysis Multidistrict Litigation

Due to the growing number of stomach paralysis lawsuits being filed against the manufacturers of Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, each raising similar allegations that drug makers withheld safety information from consumers and the medical community to increase profits,  a group of plaintiffs filed a motion calling for the centralization of all GLP-1 lawsuits as part of a single federal multidistrict litigation, or MDL, to avoid duplicate discovery into common issues in the cases and conflicting pretrial rulings from different judges.

The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) heard oral arguments from the parties on January 15, and subsequently issued a transfer order (PDF) on February 2, 2024, instructing all stomach paralysis lawsuits involving Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and other GLP1 medications to be centralized before U.S. District Judge Gene E.K. Pratter in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, who will preside over coordinated discovery in the case, preparations for any early bellwether trials and potential GLP1 settlement negotiations in the future.

At the time of the transfer order, the JPML indicated there were 18 GLP1 lawsuits pending in various different federal district courts nationwide, with at least sixteen lawsuits filed against the manufacturer of Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus; Novo Nordisk and its subsidiaries, and at least two lawsuits filed against the maker of Mounjaro; Eli Lilly.

However, the number of potential GLP-1 stomach paralysis lawsuits to be filed in the coming months and years is expected to grow significantly, with the JPML stating in the transfer order that nearly 2% of the U.S. population have been prescribed these drugs for either diabetes treatment or weight loss.

Is there an Ozempic Class Action Lawsuit?

No. At this time, semaglutide lawsuits are being pursued as individual claims on behalf of individuals who have suffered personal injuries and gastrointestinal problems from Ozempic, Wegovy and/or Rybelsus.

It is possible future Ozempic class action lawsuits may be filed to seek medical monitoring for users who may face future risks after using the diet drugs, or to seek refunds from the drug makers for failing to adequately disclose the serious risks associated with the medication. However, gastroparesis lawsuits will involve unique damages for each individual plaintiff, and will not be litigated through a class action lawsuit for Ozempic, Wegovy or Rybelsus users.

Ozempic Gastrointestinal Side Effects

Ozempic lawsuits and Mounjaro lawsuits are being pursued for individuals throughout the United States, pointing to a growing body of medical research that has established a link between Ozempic and Mounjaro and gastrointestinal side effects that may cause several painful and debilitating injuries.

Studies Linking Ozempic To Stomach Problems

Since the launch of Ozempic and its subsequent forms, clinical trials and a series of medical studies have been published that have drawn a link between Ozempic and gastrointestinal problems.

GLP-1 Drugs Increase Stomach Paralysis Symptoms

The BMJ published a study on January 29, 2024, detailing the side effects of GLP-1 agonist medications. Conducted by researchers from the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and the University of Chicago, this comprehensive review analyzed 76 studies to assess the efficacy and safety of fifteen GLP-1 receptor agonists, including, semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound).

While the study confirmed the effectiveness of GLP-1 drugs in managing type 2 diabetes through significant reductions in hemoglobin A1c and fasting plasma glucose, it also highlighted a substantial increase in adverse gastrointestinal reactions resulting in discontinuation of the drugs, and side effect such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

When compared to placebo, researchers found increased risks for the following gastric illness symptoms associated with semaglutide and tirzepatide;

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound)

• Vomiting: 392% increased risk
• Nausea: 261% increased risk
• Diarrhea: 188% increased risk

Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus)

• Vomiting: 325% increased risk
• Nausea: 246% increased risk
• Diarrhea: 137% increased risk

Ozempic Triples Stomach Paralysis Risks: 2023 Study

As million of Americans have turned to injectable weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy in recent years, the findings of a study published in JAMA on October 5, 2023, revealed that Ozempic triples the risk of stomach paralysis in users when compared to those taking alternative non-injectable weight loss medications.

Researchers looked at the side effects of Ozempic and other injectable GLP-1 agonist drugs including liraglutide (Victoza and Saxenda), and compared the rate of gastrointestinal problems reported among those using Contrave (bupropion-naltrexone), which is an oral medication prescribed for weight management. Of the study population, gastrointestinal problems were reported among 4,144 liraglutide users and 612 semaglutide users with 654 users of Contrave users.

The study found that approximately 1% of Ozempic users experienced new cases of stomach paralysis, while 0.7% liraglutide users and roughly 0.3% of those on Contrave reported new cases.  Researchers reported that the injectable semaglutide and liraglutide drugs were over three times more likely cause stomach paralysis and four times more likely to cause bowel obstruction when compared to those using Contrave.

The study also discovered that Ozempic and liraglutide users faced a nine-fold increased risk of pancreatitis, which can cause health problems ranging from mild discomfort to severe and life-threatening.

Ozempic Clinical Trials Show Symptoms of Stomach Paralysis

Lawsuits allege the drug maker was aware of the risk of stomach paralysis injuries during clinical trials, yet failed to further investigate the risks or disclose it as a possible side effect.

During semaglutide clinical trials, close to 44% of Wegovy users experienced nausea and nearly a quarter of the test subjects also reported incidents of vomiting, which are both symptoms prevalent in cases of gastroparesis.

Similar results were seen in the clinical trials for Ozempic, which is essentially Wegovy administered at a lesser dosage. During Ozempic clinical trials, one out of every five participants reported feelings of nausea, while vomiting was observed in one out of every ten individuals.

Ozempic Gallbladder Disease Study

In 2017, a groundbreaking meta-analysis focusing on Ozempic’s impact on pancreatitis and gallbladder disease was published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism. This particular study marked the first occasion that Ozempic was identified as being correlated with a heightened risk of gallbladder disease.

Specifically, researchers found individuals with Type 2 diabetes being treated with Ozempic and other GLP-1 receptor agonists were at a significant risk of developing gallbladder deficiencies and failure.

Ozempic Vomiting, Nausea Risks During Surgery

In July 2023, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) issued a press release highlighting the risk that delayed stomach emptying on Ozempic and Wegovy may have during surgery. As a result of Ozempic vomiting and nausea, users may face an increased risk of suffocation and aspiration of food into the airways and lungs during general anesthesia and deep sedation.

The Wegovy and Ozempic warning was part of new ASA guidance issued in response to the much wider use of the diet drugs, which recommends patients taking drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy on a daily basis, should not take it the day of the procedure. If they take the drug on a weekly basis, they should pause taking the medications a week before their surgery. In addition, they should consider consulting with an endocrinologist while off the drugs to help control their diabetes.

To reduce the risk of surgical complications on Ozempic, the guidance also calls for doctors to consider delaying a procedure if the patient is experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms, such as severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating or abdominal pain the day of the procedure.

2023 Ozempic Warning Label Update Over Gastric Illness

After receiving a growing number of gastrointestinal injuries, Ozempic’s warning label was updated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 22, 2023, warning that Ozempic can cause ileus after using the medication.

The updated label now includes “Gastrointestinal Disorders: Ileus” to the postmarketing experience portion of the adverse reaction sections of Ozempic’s label, warning that individuals could experience a wide range of gastrointestinal side effects.

The symptoms of ileus caused by Ozempic resemble many of the gastroparesis symptoms reported by users to the FDA in recent years. While ileus and gastroparesis are separate conditions, they share common symptoms. These include feelings of nausea, regurgitating unprocessed food, abdominal discomfort, bloating, significant dehydration, early satiety, stomach contents hardening, acid reflux, inconsistent blood sugar levels, diminished appetite, weight reduction, malnourishment, and a compromised quality of life.

“Adverse reactions have been identified during the post-market phase of semaglutide, Ozempic’s active component. Given these are voluntarily submitted from an undefined population, reliably gauging their occurrence or determining a direct link to the medication remains challenging”, the FDA stated in the warning update.

Is There an Ozempic Recall?

No. Despite the growing number of adverse events linked to Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, the manufacturer has yet to issue a formal recall.

Ozempic Lawsuit Examples

Trulicity Gastroparesis Lawsuit: Allee Smith filed a Trulicity gastroparesis lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa on April 5, 2024, claiming she developed permanent stomach paralysis after taking Trulicity from May 2021 to January 2022, resulting in significantly reduced or completely halted stomach motility. Smith claims she has also developed acid reflux, changes in blood sugar, lack of appetite, malnutrition and overall decreased quality of life due to the drug makers failure to adequately warn consumers and the medical community about Trulicity side effects.

Ozempic Gastroparesis Lawsuit:  Rodney Muilenburg filed an Ozempic gastroparesis lawsuit in the U.S. District Court District of South Dakota on November 27, claiming that he developed severe symptoms of gastroparesis shortly after starting use of Ozempic for its prescribed purpose of controlling blood sugar to manage Type II diabetes.
Muilenburg claims that as a result of using Ozempic, he has been diagnosed with gastroparesis and continues to suffer from symptoms of severe vomiting, diarrhea, acid reflux and other gastric side effects.

Ozempic Stomach Paralysis Lawsuit: Jacklyn Bjorklund filed an Ozempic lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, indicating that she used Ozempic or more than a year and suffers from severe gastroparesis, including vomiting, stomach pain, gastrointestinal burning and repeated hospital emergency room visits for stomach issues.

Bjorklund claims that as a result of excessive vomiting caused by Ozempic, she indicates that some of her teeth fell out and she has been prescribed additional medication to prevent throwing up food hours after eating.

Bjorklund’s complaint indicates that her severe gastrointestinal issues were the direct result of side effects of Ozempic and Mounjaro, alleging the manufacturers knew, or should have known, that the drugs increase the risk of gastroparesis and gastroenteritis.

Ozempic Lawyers Reviewing Cases Nationwide

How to file an Ozempic lawsuit: If you or a loved one developed stomach injuries after taking Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Mounjaro or other GLP-1 agonists, submit information about your potential claim for review by a product liability lawyer to determine whether a weight loss drug lawsuit settlement may be available.

Ozempic injury lawyers provide free claim evaluations and consultations. There are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained in your case.